A naturalized citizen honored by President Barack Obama with the Outstanding American of Choice award in April came to the United States as a refugee from Nigeria and was resettled under the auspices of Church World Service.

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Ledum D. Ndaanee received the "Outstanding American by Choice" award from President Obama during a ceremony at the White House, April 23, 2010. The award highlights the importance of citizenship rights and responsibilities through recognition of the outstanding achievements of naturalized U.S. citizens. U.S. Army photo by Todd Lopez

A naturalized citizen honored by President Barack Obama with the Outstanding American of Choice award in April came to the United States as a refugee from Nigeria and was resettled under the auspices of Church World Service.

The award highlights the importance of citizenship rights and responsibilities through recognition of the outstanding achievements of naturalized U.S. citizens.

Marine Sgt. Ledum Sunday Dennis Ndaanee (Dennis) received the award during an April 23 Rose Garden ceremony in which 24 other active duty service members were sworn in as U.S. citizens.

CWS resettled Ndaanee, his sister and their parents to Virginia, where two churches helped sponsor the family: Colonial Place Christian Church in Richmond and Springfield Christian Church in Rockville.

Ndaanee joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 2004. He served two tours of duty in Iraq, where he was wounded by an IED in 2007, the same year he became an American citizen.

CWS works with partners to eradicate hunger and poverty and to promote peace and justice around the world.

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